Presenters

Anne Wilson, CEO at PrefabAUS
Anne Wilson is the new Chief Executive Officer of prefabAUS having commenced on 2 March, 2020. She believes there has never been a more important time to step into this role and work with and on behalf of the prefabricated construction industry. Anne is an experienced Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director with a diverse track record of restructuring, repositioning and growing organisations to meet stakeholder needs while attracting investment for financial sustainability and growth. She has worked across the education and health NFP sectors focussing on capacity building across key areas of advocacy, education, research and service delivery among others. A graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business NFP Leadership Program Anne’s qualifications span degrees in Human Services and Adolescent Health. In 2008, Anne was the winner of the NFP Network Association CEO of the Year award. Active on the international stage Anne is currently Director and Secretary/Treasurer of the International Kidney Cancer Coalition with offices in the Netherlands and the UK.
With strong social justice values, a passion for stakeholder engagement and working collaboratively to achieve business outcomes Anne is committed to increasing the impact of the industry voice in prefabricated construction across Australia.
Karen Newberry, QLD Building Manager at AV Jennings
Bringing over 20 years’ experience in residential and commercial construction both in Australian and overseas, Karen brings a fresh perspective to construction methodologies through experience gained both on site and as a Director. Karen’s work experience prior to her journey to construction was as a business analyst and finance executive working across a wide range of property and market related sectors. For the last two years Karen has been working with the team at AVJennings Queensland as a Construction Manager. She is also in her final stages of completing her law degree and holds a Certificate IV in Construction and Business Management. Right now, Karen and her team are in the process of completing several projects for AVJennings the most recent of which was Anise Stage 1/19 Units plus 64 units of civil infrastructure at Bridgeman Downs that was completed in 131 days from start to finish!


Tamika Smith, Executive Director at Top 100 Women in Construction
Recently named “The Most Influential Woman in Construction”, Tamika’s expertise ranges from project management, development, to top salesperson within Australia’s largest residential building company. Starting in the construction sector at just 19, having her own company from the age of 21, Tamika’s career scaled further into residential projects delivering an end-to-end development model, soon specialising in delivering social and affordable housing. The Top 100 Women is a Professional Industry Association for women in construction, connecting some 13,500 individuals all over the world. The recently released technology platform has been regarded as an “essential tool for women in the construction sector,” changing the game as we know it today within male dominated segments all over the world. Now backed by some of the largest companies in the world including BHP, Western Sydney University and recognised as the largest online community for women in construction globally.
Building and construction is the nation’s second largest industry. It impacts on our everyday lives by building our communities and the homes, schools, hospitals, roads, offices, shops and airports that we take for granted. It also builds prosperity in every city, town and region employing more than a million people.
But with women currently making up only 11% of the industry’s total workforce and only 1% of building trades, the industry is missing out on the skills and talents of half the population.
Great architecture, design and construction have no gender.
Attracting the best the workers regardless of their gender means the industry will benefit and evolve with new skills, ideas and innovations, the business success of building businesses will be boosted and more women can take advantage of the fantastic career and job opportunities that our industry has on offer.
To empower and inspire women within the design, construction and related industries, Weathertex have brought together respected industry professionals to discuss their background, experience, the benefits in working within the building industry, any misconceptions and challenges faced by women working in our industry.